Stranding of the Steamer 'La Palma' in Lanzarote. An Incident from 1925

In the last week of November 1925, a severe storm hit the Canary Islands, causing significant damage to the agriculture of the islands and also affecting maritime communications. At noon on the 26th, after a rather rough journey that had lasted more than six hours beyond its scheduled time since leaving Las Palmas, the steamer 'La Palma' docked at the new pier in Arrecife. That same night, it was scheduled to depart for its port of origin, and then continue its usual route, heading for Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santa Cruz de La Palma, San Sebastián de La Gomera, and Valverde.

That night, hurricane-force winds began to blow over Lanzarote, and despite the crew of the steamer 'La Palma' taking the necessary precautions, at one o'clock in the morning on the 27th, the moorings broke with such force that one of the bollards it was tied to was torn away, colliding stern-first against the pier. The ship was left without control, at the mercy of the violent waves, and ran aground on the shallows of San José, becoming stranded “in extremely dangerous conditions.” The situation caused great alarm among the local residents, given the “unusual proportions of the storm”[1].

While attempts were made to start the engine, which were unsuccessful due to the boilers lacking pressure, in its wandering over the infernal sea, it collided with and destroyed the schooners “Cabo Juby” and “San José-Agustín,” causing them to sink, although without casualties. Seeing the situation, Captain Matías Reina ordered the abandonment of the ship, and the thirty crew members complied with the order under difficult circumstances and with evident risk to their lives[2].

When the storm subsided, the scene was desolate. Hundreds of people flocked to the site to see the ship that was stranded on dry land, literally sitting on the rocks, with evident signs of destruction and significant damage, to the point that the initial impressions of the technicians who arrived were very pessimistic, and they deemed it a total loss.

When the news reached Las Palmas, the director of the Interinsular Canarian Steamship Company, Emilio Ley Arata, ordered the steamer “Gomera-Hierro” to set sail for Arrecife, carrying personnel and salvage materials.

Despite the initial impressions, clearly pessimistic, the salvage of the steamer 'La Palma' seemed possible, and it was achieved on December 14, after two weeks of strenuous efforts, taking advantage of the high tide, when it managed to free itself from the rocky trap it was in.

The naval engineer, Mr. Vidal, directed the salvage operations with notable success, for which he “received many congratulations for the skill and activity he demonstrated in the undertaking”[3]. Once it was successfully floated again, the ship was docked at the pier to carry out temporary work to ensure its buoyancy, while the population of Arrecife celebrated the happy event:

“In this city, there is great jubilation – says the chronicle of the correspondent from La Prensa – as the shipping company is very beloved for the great services it has provided to the entire island”[4].

Once floated again, and to avoid further issues, the water ingress points were sealed with cement, and it made its way to Las Palmas on December 21, proceeding to be dry-docked at the Grand Canary & Co. shipyards, with repairs estimated to take four months.

When it was on dry land, with the bow facing the Isleta, the extent of the damages was evident. “Water was gushing out in large jets flooding the holds (…) All the bottom plates and stability keels were found to be sunken and bent due to the impact. At the bow, through the coal bunkers and at the stern, along the entire starboard side, the damages are so significant that the beautiful ship was not completely lost thanks to being equipped with a double bottom along its entire length.”

The aviator Casagrande, who was flying to Las Palmas, as he had been telegraphed from there that the weather “was favorable” for the flight, barely attempted to cross the stretch of sea that separates the African coast from Gran Canaria, gave up the attempt, and returned to Casablanca.

In Playa de San Juan, on the coast of Guía de Isora, the gasoline boat Mío, owned by Ignacio Florio and dedicated to fish transport, ran aground, with the crew barely managing to reach the shore.

Notes:

[1] La Prensa, November 28, 1925.

[2] The abandonment of the ship, despite the nerves, was done quite orderly, following the orders of the first officer, Emilio García Valle, assisted by the second officer, Fausto Miñón. In the engine room, the first engineer, Vicente Fox, and the second, Javier Perdomo, did the same with their personnel, which they managed to do to avoid further issues.

[3] La Prensa, December 15, 1925.

[4] Op. cit.

Photo: Archive Juan Antonio Padrón Albornoz (ULL)